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BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 


ISIEeiFEOEBOTOFIlfli 


Bamcroft  LibracS 

CONSTITUTION 


^^NlJ 


BY-LAV/S 


OK   THE 


ADOPTED   AT 

BUXXE;  CITY,  MONT., 

MAY  19,  1893. 


Amoiidocl  at  Salt  Luke  City,  ITtali.  tS91. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado.  189.">. 
Amended  at  Denvei-.  Coloiado.  189ti. 


TEfK  SUNDAY   AJMI5m*^ir/?BPFV   BYSTANDER 
PRINT.  BUTTK.  MONT. 


CMMPTON  ACCESSIOii  Qi  t    A.  J^A^ 

§AtiCKQn  UBP4BY 

HD6676- 

PREAHBLE  ^^^l 

Since  there  is  scarcely  any  fact  better 
known  than  that  civilization  has  for  centu- 
ries progressed  in  proportion  to  the  pro- 
duction and  utilization  ot  the  metals, 
precious  and '  base,  and  most  of  the  com- 
forts enjoyed  by  the  great  majority  of 
mankind  are  due  to  this  progress,  the  men 
engaged  in  the  hazardous  and  unhealthy 
occupation  of  mining  should  receive  a  fair 
compensation  for  their  labor,  and  such 
protection  from  the  law  as  will  remove 
needless  risk  to  life  and  health ;  we  there- 
fore deem  it  necessary  to  organize  the 
Western  Federation  of  Miners  of  America 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  by  education 
and  organization,  and  wise  legislation,  a 
just   compensation  for  our  labor  and  the 


PREAMBLE  OE  THE 


right  to  use  our  earnings  free  from  dicta- 
tion by  any  person  whatsoever.  We  there- 
fore declare  our  objects  to  be: 

Firsi — To  secure  an  earning  fully  com- 
patible with  the  dangers  of  our  employ- 
ment. 

Second — To  establish  as  speedily  as 
possible,  and  forever,  our  right  to  receive 
pay  for  labor  perfoTmed,  in  lawful  money, 
and  to  rid  ourselves  of  the  iniquitous  sys- 
tem of  spending  our  earnings  where  and 
how  our  employers  or  their  officers  may 
designate. 

Third — To  procure  the  introduction  and 
use  of  any  and  all  suitable  efficient  appli- 
ances for  the  preservation  of  life,  health 
and  limbs  of  all  employes,  and  thereby 
preserve  to  society  the  lives  of  a  large 
number  of  wealth  producers  annually. 

Fourth — To  labor  for  the  enactment  of 
suitable   mining    laws,    with   a    sufficient 


WESTERN  FEDERATION  OF  MINERS.  5 

number  of  inspectors,  who  shall  be  prac- 
tical miners,  for  the  proper  enforcement  of 
such   laws. 

Fifth — To  provide  for  the  education  of 
our  child  1  en  by  lawfully  prohibiting  their 
employment  until  they  shall  have  obtained 
a  satisfactory  education,  and  in  every  case 
until  they  shall  have  reached  sixteen  years 
of  age. 

Sixth — To  prevent  by  law  any  mine 
owner  or  mining  company  from  employing 
any  Pinkerton  detectives,  or  other  armed 
forces,  from  taking  possession  of  any  mine, 
except  the  lawfully  elected  or  appointed 
forces  of  the  state,  who  shall  be  bona  fide 
citizens  of  the  county  and  state. 

Seventh — To  use  all  honorable  means  to 
maintain  friendly  relations  between  our- 
selves and  our  employers,  and  endeavor  by 
arbitration  and  conciliation  to  settle  such 
differences   as   may  arise  between  us,  and 


PREAMBLE. 


thus  make  strikes  unnecessary. 

Eighth — To  use  all  lawful  and  honor- 
able means  to  abolish  the  system  of  con- 
tract convict  labor  in  states  where  it  now 
exists,  and  to  demand  the  enforcement  of 
the  foreign  contract  labor  law  and  the 
protectimi  of  oui  American  miners  and 
mechanics  against   imported  pauper  labor. 

Ninth — To  demand  the  repeal  of  all 
conspiracy  laws  that  in  any  way  abridge 
the  right  of  labor  organizations. 

Tenth — To  procure  emj)loyment  for  our 
members  in  preference  to  non-union  men. 


CONSTITUTION 


ARTICLE  I. 

Section  1.  This  body  shall  be  known 
as  tlie  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and 
shall  be  composed  of  Miners'  Unions  pay- 
in<^  a  per  capita  tax  to  the  Federation. 

Sec.  2.  The  objects  of  this  body  sliall 
be  to  nnite  the  various  Miners'  Unions  into 
one  central  body ;  to  practice  those  virtues 
that  adorn  society  and  remind  man  of  his 
duty  to  his  fellow  man;  the  elevation  of 
his  position,  and  the  maintenance  of  the 
rights  of  the  miner. 

ARTICLE  IL 

CONVENTION. 

Section  1.  This  Federation  shall  hold 
its  annual  convention  on  the  second  Monday 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THK 


in  May,  at  such  place  as  the  conven- 
tion shall  designate  before  adjournment  of 
any  session  thereof. 

REPRESENTATION. 

Sec.  2.  Each  local  union  shall  be  enti- 
tled to  one  delegate  for  one  hundred  raem- 
])ers  or  less,  and  one  for  each  additional 
one  hundred  or  majority  fraction  tliereof. 
No  delegate  shall  have  more  tlian  five 
votes . 

Sec.  3.  No  local  union  shall  l)e  enti- 
tled to  representation  in  convention  which 
has  not  complied  with  the  constitution  of 
tliis  Federation. 

Sec.  4.  Delegates  and  alternates  to  the 
annual  convention  shall  be  elected  by  their 
local  unions  at  least  thirty  days  prior  to 
the  meeting  thereof.  No  member  is  eli- 
gible as  a  delegate  who  has  not  been  a 
member  of  his  local  union  twelve  months; 


WESTKRN  FEIDERATION  OF  MINERS  9 

provided,  such  local  union  has  been  organ- 
ized that  length  of  time.  Delegates  shall 
present  their  credentials  before  being 
admitted  to  a  seat  therein. 

Sec.  5  A  majority  of  the  unions  com- 
prising the  Federation  shall  constitute  a 
(.quorum. 

ARTICLE  III. 

OFFICERS. 

Section  1.  The  officers  of  the  Federa- 
tion shall  consist  of  a  President,  a  Vice- 
President,  a  Secretary-'J  reasurer,  and  an 
Executive  Board  of  seven,  of  which  the 
President  shall  be  chairman;  all  of  whom 
shall  be  elected  by  a  majority  of  the  votes 
cast  at  each  annual  convention. 

NOMINx\TIONS    AND   ELECTION    OF   OFFICERS. 

Sfc:  2.  Nominations  of  officers  shall 
be  made  from  the  floor  md  election  mmt 
b#  bj  bullot,     Siiould  jio  oa-ndidate  r«c©iy? 


10  CONSTITUTION  OF  THR 

a  majority  of  the  votes  @n  the  first  ballot, 
th©  candidate  receiving  the  lowest  number 
of  votes  shall  be  dropped  and  another  bal- 
lot taken,  and  this  procedure  continued 
until  some  candidate  is  elected. 

DUTIES    OF    PRESIDENT. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
President  to  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the 
Federation,  preserve  order,  enforce  the 
Constitution  and  watch  vigilantly  over  the 
interests  and  affairs  of  the  Federation;  in 
this  he  shall  be  assisted  by  all  the  officers 
of  the  Federation.  He  shall  have  the 
right  to  vote  at  the  election  of  officers, 
and  when  the  members  are  equally  divided 
he  shall  have  the  deciding  vote  on  any 
question.  He  shall  sign  all  orders  drawn 
by  the  Secretary-Treasurer,  in  compliance 
with  a^'vote  of  the  majority  at  any  conven- 
tion or  the   Executive  Board.     He   shall, 


with  the  approval  *of  the  Executive  Board, 
fill  all  vacancies  occuriiig  in  the  Executive 
Board  or  in  the  office  of  Secretary-Treas- 
urer. He  shall  be  General  Organizer  and 
have  the  right,  when  occasion  requires,  to 
appoint  deputy  organizers,  said  organizers 
to  be  selected  from  local  unions  nearest  to 
the  place  where  the  new  union  is  to  be  or- 
ganized; such  organizers  shall  receive  the 
current  wages  of  the  camp  where  they  re- 
side and  mileage  for  their  service  wliih^ 
organizing.  He  shall  communicate  with 
persons  living  in  camps  where  the  Feder- 
ation does  not  exist  and  have  them  organ- 
ized as  quickly  as  possible.  He  shall  re- 
ceive $5.00  per  day  for  his  services  and 
transportation  expenses. 

DUTIES  OF  VICE-PEESIDBXT. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Vice-President  to  assist  the  President  to 
preserve  order  at  all   meetings  and  assist 


12  CONsTl'rullON  Oi*  THE 

him  ill  the  discharge  or  his  duties;  preside 
during  his  absence,  and  perform  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President. 

DUTIES  OF  SECRETARY-TREASURER. 

Sec.  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Secretary-Treasurer  to  preserve  the  seal 
and  books,  documents  and  effects  of  the 
ofeneral  office  of  the  Federation :  record  the 
proceedings  of  all  conventions  and  meet- 
ings of  the  Executive  Board,  and  keep 
copies  of  all  important  letters  sent  out  by 
him;  receive  and  receipt  for  all  moneys; 
pay  all  current  expenses;  prepare  and  sub- 
mit in  circular  form  to  the  locals  a  quart- 
erly report  of  all  moneys  received  and 
disbursed  by  him ;  he  shall  give  a  bond  in 
such  amount  as  the  Executive  Board  de- 
mand. He  shall  not  at  any  time  have 
moi-e  than  one  thousand  dollars  subject  to 
his  order.      All   funds  must   be  deposited 


W^STKRN   FKDKRATIONjJOF  MINKRS.  li 

by  him  as  directed  by  the  Executive  Board. 
Within  the  first  week  of  April,  annually, 
he  shall  send  to  each  local  union  two  blank 
forms  of  credentials  for  delegates  to  the 
annual  convention,  one  of  which  he  shall 
file  after  being  returned  from  local  union 
properly  filled  and  signed  by  the  President 
and  Kecording  Secretary,  bearing  the  seal 
of  the  union.  He  shall  turn  overall  prop- 
erty of  the  Federation  in  his  possession*  to 
his  qualitied  successor,  and  at  all  times 
have  his  books  ready  for  examination  by 
the  Executive  Board.  He  shall  receive 
for  his  services  not  less  than  $109.00  per 
month,  or  the  prevailing  wages  of  the 
camp  in  which  he  lives. 

EXECUTIVE    BOARD. 

Sec.  6.  The  Executive  Board  shall 
constitute  the  Federation  Board  of  Arbi- 
tration    and     Conciliation,    and    between 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE 


Conventions  have  full  power  to  direct  the 
workings  of  the  Federation.  No  repre- 
sentative of  a  local  union  shall  be  entitled 
to  a  hearing  before  the  Executive  Board 
without  proper  credentials,  with  the  seal 
of  the  union  attached  theriito. 

Sec.  7.  The  Executive  Board  shall  be 
convened  by  the  President,  or  hj  the  Sec- 
retary-Treasurer, at  the  request  of  three 
members  of  the  board. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

EEVENIIE  AND  DISBURSEMENTS. 

Section  1.  The  revenue  of  the  Federa- 
tion shall  be  derived  from  a  charter  fee  at 
cost  of  production,  and  an  annual  per 
capita  tax  of  one  dollar  per  member  in 
good  standing,  to  be  paid  from  the  general 
fund  of  each  local  union  cpiarterly  in 
advance';  and,  in  case  of  emergency,  sucli 
"^  assessments  as  in  the  judgment  of  the 
Executive  Board  may  be  necessary. 


WESTKRN  FKDKRATION  OF  MINERS.  16 

Sec.  2.  The  per  capita  tax  is  due  on  the 
following  dates:  January  1st,  April  1st, 
July  1st  and  October  1st.  Local  unions 
not  in  good  standing  with  the  Federation 
fifteen  days  prior  to  the  convention  are  not 
entitled  to  representation.  The  fiscal  year 
ends  on  April  ^)0. 

ARTICLE  Y. 

STRIKES  AND  LOCKOUTS. 

Section  1.  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any 
local  union  to  enter  upon  a  strike  unless 
ordered  by  three-fourths  of  its  resident 
members  and  on  approval  of  the  Executive 
Board,  who  shall  have  at  least  lifteen  days 
notice  of  the  action  of  the  local  union; 
provided,  that  when  employers  refuse  to 
give  fifteen  days  notice  to  consider  the 
proposed  change  in  working  time  or 
wages  made  by  them  to  the  local  union, 
then  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  members  of 
the    local    union    to   strike    in    order    to 


16  CONSTITUTION  OF  THH 

maintain  their  rights;  in  this  they  shall  be 
assisted  by  the  Executive  Board. 
ARTICLE  VI. 

NEW  UNIONS. 

Section  1.  Whenever  twenty  live  or 
more  non-union  or  union  miners  shall  be 
SO  situated  within  the  jurisdiction  of  a 
local  union  that  the  attendance  at  meetings 
of  such  local  union  would  be  inconvenient, 
they  may  ap^Dly  to  the  Executive  Board 
for  a  charter.  Should  the  board  consider 
their  application  to  be  just,  issue  them  a 
charter  and  define  their  jurisdiction.  Such 
ai:)plicants  must  api^ly  to  their  various 
local  unions  for  transfer  cards  through  the 
Secretary-elect.  Any  local  refusing  to 
issue  such  cards  will  be  subject  to  a  fine, 
the  amount  to  be  determined  by  the  Exec- 
utive Board. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

PENALTIi;y. 

Section  1.    Any  local  union  failing  or 

rdtming  t9  9omplj  with  thk  OomtiMion 


WESTERN  FEDERATION  OF  MINERS.  17 

shall  for  the  first  offense  be  suspended 
from  the  privileges  and  benetits  of  the 
Federation  for  three  months,  and  for  a 
second  offense  six  months,  or  be  expelled, 
as  the  Executive  Board  may  determine. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

Section  1.  Each  member  at  initiation 
shall  pledge  himself  to  support  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  Federation  and  obey  all  law- 
ful orders  of  the  Executive  Board,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  obligation  required  by  the  local 
union  of  which  he  becomes  a  member. 

Sec.  2.  This  Constitution  shall  not  be 
amended  except  by  a  two- thirds  vote  of  all 
delegates  assembled  in  annual  convention. 


ff^ 


BY=LAW5 


AKTICLE  I. 

Section  1.  Whenever  a  strike  shall  be 
approved  by  the  Executive  Board  or  a  local 
union,  as  authorized  by  Section  1  of  Article 
V.  of  the  Constitution,  such  local  union 
shall  designate  the  person  or  committee  to 
whom  aid  shall  be  sent  by  the  Secretary - 
Treasurer.  Such  person  or  committee 
shall  be  held  responsible  for  the  proper 
use  of  such  aid  and  make  complete  returns 
throu,o:h  the  Secretary-Treasurer  to  the 
Executive  Board  and  local  union  of  the 
receipts  and  disbursements  and  the  per- 
sons aided. 

Sec.  2.  The  Secretary -Treasurer  shall 
make  all  remittances  by  draft  in  favor  of 
the  person  or  committee  authorized  by  the 


WKSTKRN  FEDERATION  OF  MINERS.  19 

local  union  to  receive  aid,  and  take  sealed 
receipts  for  the  same. 

Sec.  3.  Local  unions  shall  preserve  all 
receipts  issued  by  the  Secretary-Treasurer 
and  have  the  same  xjresented  to  the 
Finance  Committee  at  the  annual  conven- 
tion through  their  delegates  to  the  con- 
vention, in  order  to  compare  them  with 
the  stub  book  of  the  Secretary-Treasurer. 

Sec.  4.  The  Executive  Board  shall  send 
to  each  local  union  which  has  paid  per 
capita  tax  a  (quarterly  j)assword,  and  on 
the  1st  of  elanuary  and  1st  of  July  a  semi- 
annual password,  to  be  given  to  any  mem- 
ber taking  a  traveling  card. 

Sec.  5.  All  withdrawal,  transfer  and 
traveling  cards  of  the  Federation  shall  be 
made  of  uniform  design. 

Sec.  6.  The  Federation  has  adopted, 
for  the  sake  of  uniformity,  the  following 
supplies,  which  must  be  procured  from  tlie 
Secretary-Treasurer,  viz.:  Constitntions, 
traveling   cards,   transfer   cards,  quarterly 


20  JiY-I.AWS  OF  TMF) 

report  V)lanks  and  the  autliorized  metal 
badges  of  tlie  Federation,  at  cost. 

Sec.  7.  On  presentation  of  a  traveling 
card  to  any  local  union,  the  holder  shall  be 
entitled  to  the  same  benefits,  financial  and 
otherwise,  to  which  he  would  if  in  his  local 
union,  and  shall  be  aided  in  procuring 
employment  when  desired:  provided,  that 
all  money  paid  to  any  mend)er  under  this 
section  be  rejpaid  by  the  local  union  to 
which  the  member  then  belongs. 

Sec.  8.  When  tw^o  or  more  union  nien 
may  l)e  employed  not  in  the  vicinity  of  a 
local  union  one  of  them  shall  act  as  col- 
lector and  forward  to  their  respective 
unions  monthly  all  dues  and  assessments 
ioT  which  they  may  hv  lial^le. 

Sec.  9.  Jf  a  meinl)er  takes  a  withdrawal 
card  from  the  union  to  which  he  belongs 
and  goes  to  work  at  mining  in  any  place 
where  there  is  a  union  of  the  Federation 
he  shall  at  once  deposit   his  card  in  that 


\^KS'fKRN  t^EDKRATlON  Ol^  MlNt'RJ^.  f-'l 


union;  failing  to  do  so,  he  shall  have  to 
pay  the  regular  initiation  fee  of  that  union. 

Sec.  10.  No  member  shall  be  admitted 
to  a  seat  in  a  local  union  or  any  convention 
while  under  the  iiifluence  of  liquor,  and 
any  member  refusing  to  obey  the  order  of 
the  President  in  either  case  shall  V)e  fined 
one  dollar  for  each  offense. 

Sec.  11.  The  pay  of  officers  and  dele- 
gates to  the  annual  convention  of  the 
Western  Federation  of  Miners  shall  be  five 
dollars  per  day  while  attending  the  con- 
vention, which  shall  ])e  i)aid  by  the  local 
union  which  they  represent,  except  the 
officers  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Min- 
ers, who  shall  be  paid  by  the  Federation, 
unless  he  be  an  elected  delegate.  All 
stage  and  railroad  fares  shall  be  paid  l)y 
the  Western  Federation  of  Miners.  Resi- 
dent delegates  shall  be  paid  only  the  pre- 
vailing union  wages  of  the  town  in  which 
the  convention  shall  be  held. 


BY-IvAWs  ot^  f  HK 


Sec.  12.  Each  local  union  may  provide 
for  the  education  of  its  members  by  estab- 
lishing and  maintaining  a  library. 

DISTRICTS. 

Sec.  13.  When  two  or  more  local 
unions  exist,  they  nmy,  if  they  deem  it 
necessary,  organize  a  District  Union  for 
the  purpose  of  doing  business  jointly  for 
the  district;  local  unions  to  elect  delegates 
to  the  District  l^nion.  But  District 
Unions  shall  be  subordinate  to  the  Feder- 
ation. 

ARTICLE  II.     . 

Section  1.  Any  member  leaving  a  local 
union  of  the  Federation  to  engage  in  any 
business  other  than  mining  for  a  period  of 
twelve  months  or  more,  and  neglecting  to 
take  a  withdrawal  card,  will  ))e  held  for 
twelve  months  dues  and  two  assessments 
to  the  local  unicm  to  which  he  belonged; 
provided,  such  assessments  have  been 
levied. 


WKSTKRN  FEDKRATION  OF  MINERS.  23 

8eg.  2.  Any  member  of  a  local  union 
leaving  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Federation 
for  a  period  of  twelve  months  or  more  can 
rejoin  any  union  of  the  Federation  for  the 
sum  of  $5.00;  provided,  he  has  not  con- 
tracted any  contagious  disease  during  such 
period. 

8eo.  3.^  I  In  no  case  shall  this  article 
apply  to  members  engaged  in  mining 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Federation 
who,  through  neglect  or  otherwise,  do  not 
pay  their  monthly  dues  to  their  local 
union. 

Sec.  4.  Any  member  of  the  Federation 
wishing  to  travel  will,  on  application  to 
the  Financial  Secretary  of  his  local  union, 
receive  a  traveling  card,  and  upon  present- 
ation of  said  card  be  admitted  into  any 
union  of  the  Federation,  and  in  case  of 
sickness  or  death  by  having  said  card  pre- 
sented to  any  local  union  in  tlie  Federation 
be  entitled  to  all  the  rights,  privileges  and 
benefits  of  his  own  union.     This  card  will 


24  ,  BY-LAWS  OF  THE 

be  issued  for  the  length  of  time  a  member 
pays  his  dues,  but  not  to  exceed  one  year. 
In  addition  he  shall  receive  the  S.  A.  T.  P. 
W.  Should  he  be  at  work  within  the  jur- 
isdiction of  any  local  union  of  the  Feder- 
ation at  the  expiration  of  said  card  it  shall 
be  his  duty  to  obtain  a  transfer  card  from 
his  union  and  deposit  it  in  the  union  under 
whose  jurisdiction  he  is  at  work. 
AKTICLE  III. 
Section  1.  Any  member  leaving  the 
jurisdiction  of  his  local  union  and  going  to 
that  of  another  union  of  the  Federation, 
shall  pay  his  dues,  and  assessments  if 
levied,  to  the  first  of  the  current  month, 
and  through  the  Financial  Secretary  of  the 
latter  union  make  application  for  a  transfer 
card;  but  he  shall  hold  membership  in  the 
former  union  until  he  is  admitted  to 
membership  in  the  latter, 

WITHDRAWAL  (3ARDB, 

Seo.  2.    Any  member  leaving  the  juris- 
d}Pl)9ft  9f  tb^  Federatiou,  or  wbp  m^^ 


WKvSTBRN  FEDERATION  OF  MtNEKS.  25 

follow  any  vocation  not  governed  by  this 
body,  may,  by  paying  Ins  dues,  fines  and 
assessments  up  to  date,  demand  a  with- 
drawal card,  and  by  preserving  said  card 
and  presenting  it  to  any  local  union  in  the 
Federation  ^rejoin  at  any  time,  for  the  sum 
of  one  dollar;  provided,  he  has  not  con- 
tracted any  disease  or  received  any  per- 
sonal injury.  In  either  case  the  union 
reserves  the  right  to  reject  him. 

8ec.  3,  All  local  unions  of  the  Federa- 
tion shall  hold  their  semi-annual  election 
on  the  first  meeting  in  March  and  Septem- 
ber. Each  Recording  Secretary  shall, 
within  ten  days  thereafter,  send  the  names 
of  all  officers  elected  to  the  Secretary- 
Treasurer  of  the  Federation,  who  shall 
compile  a  directory  of  same  and  forward  a 
copy  to  each  local  union. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

JURISDICTION. 

Section  1.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  Fed- 
eration shall  extend  to  all  states  and  terri- 
tories where  one  or  more  unions  of  the 
Western  Federation  of  Miners  exist. 


RULES  OF  ORDER 


During  the  continuance  of  the  meeting 
silence  most  be  observed,  the  officers  and 
members  retaining  their  respective  seats, 
and  no  one  leaving  the  room  without  per- 
mission of  the  President  or  Vice-President. 

No  member  shall,  by  conversation  or 
otherwise,  interrupt  the  business  of  the 
Federation  or  refuse  to  obey  the  chair. 

The  President,  while  presiding,  will  state 
every  question  coming  before  the  PVdera- 
tion,  and  immediately  before  putting  it  to 
a  vote  shall  ask,  *  'Are  you  ready  for  the 
question?"  Should  no  member  rise  to 
speak,  or  by  silence  indicate  their  readi- 
ness, he  shall  rise  to  state  the  question, 
and  after  he  has  risen  no  member  shall  be 
permitted  to  speak  upon  it.  He  shall  pro- 
nounce the  result  or  decision  of  the  Feder- 
ation upon  all  subjects. 


WESTERN  FEDKRA.TION  OF  MINERS.  27 

Every  member  when  he  speaks  or  offers 
a  motion  shall  rise  and  respectfully  address 
the  presiding  officer.  While  speaking  he 
shall  confine  himself  to  the  subject  under 
debate,  avoiding  all  personalities  and  inde- 
corous language,  as  well  as  any  reflection 
upon  the  union  or  its  members. 

Should  two  or  more  members  rise  to 
speak  at  the  same  time  the  chair  shall 
decide  who  is  entitled  to  the  floor. 

No  member  shall  disturb  another  in  his 
speech,  unless  to  call  him  to  order  for 
words  spoken. 

If  a  member  while  speaking  shall  be 
called  to  order,  at  the  request  of  the  chair 
he  shall  cease  speaking  and  take  his  seat 
until  the  question  of  order  is  determined, 
when,  if  permitted,  he  may  again  proceed. 
No  member  shall  speak  more  than  once 
on  the  same  question  until  all  the  members 
wishing  to  speak  shall  have  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  do  so,  nor  more  than  twice  with- 
out permission  of  the^ chair, 


28  RULES  OP  ORDER  OF  THE 

When  any  communication,  petition  or 
memorial  is  presented,  before  it  is  read  a 
brief  statement  of  its  contents  shall  be 
made  by  the  introducer  to  the  chair. 

No  motion  shall  be  subject  to  action 
unless  seconded  and  stated  by  the  chair. 

Any  member  may  call  for  a  division  of  a 
question  when  the  sense  will  admit  of  it. 

When  a  question  is  before  the  Federation 
no  motion  shall  be  received  unless  to  close, 
the  previous  question,  to.  lay  on  the  table, 
to  postpone  indefinitely,  to  refer,  to  amend, 
and  shall  have  precedence  in  the  order 
herein  arranged — the  first  three  of  which 
shall  be  decided  without  debate. 

After  any  question,  except  one  of  indef- 
inite postponement,  or  one  the  result  of 
which  the  Federation  cannot  reverse,  has 
been  decided  any  two  members  who  voted 
in  the  majority  may,  at  the  same  meeting, 
move  for  a  reconsideration  thereof. 

No  amendments  shall  be  received  except 
they  be  in  writing. 


WESTERN  FEDERATION  OF  MINERS.  29 

All  questions  not  provided  for  by  the 
Constitution,  By-Laws,  Rules  of  Order,  or 
by  the  general  laws  of  the  Federation, 
shall  be  determined  by  a  majority  of  the 
members  at  a  regular  meeting. 

These  rules  may  be  suspended  for  a 
special  purpose  by  a  vote  of  two- thirds  of 
the  members  present. 

Roberts'  Rules  of  Order  shall  govern  the 
proceedings  of  the  Federation  in  the  absence 
of  any  rules  of  order  not  herein  provided 
for. 


ORDER  OF  BUSINESS 


1.  Call  the  meeting  to  order. 

2.  Warden  secure  the  door. 

3.  Presentation  of  credentials, 

4.  Appointment  of  committees. 

5.  Roll  call. 

6.  Reading  minutes  of  previous  meeting. 

7.  Communications  and  correspondence. 

8.  Bills. 

9.  Reports  of  officers. 

10.  Reports  of  standing  committees. 

11.  Special  committees. 

12.  Unfinished  business. 

13.  New  business. 

14.  Election  of  officers. 

15.  Good  and  welfare  of  the  Federation. 

1 6.  Installation  of  officers. 

17.  Adjournment. 


